Identification badge



July 30, 1968 R. W. STENZEL IDENT IF I CAT ION BADGE Filed Dec. 1, 1966 IN [/5 N TOR R/cHA RD W 575N251.

United States Patent 3,394,475 IDENTIFICATION BADGE Richard W. Stenzel, 1681 Tam OShanter Road, Apt. -L, Seal Beach, Calif. 90740 Filed Dec. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 598,264 2 Claims. (Cl. 40-1.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE An identification badge suitable for use in vest pockets of garments and upon which various types of information may be inscribed. The significant feature is one or more slideably adjustable inserts which can be raised so that they are visible above the pocket in which the device is kept. More than one such sliding insert may be used or all of them at one time.

This invention is concerned with an adjustable identification badge, primarily for use in breastpockets of garments and has many signal advantages over the types of such holders presently in use.

It is an object of the invention to provide an identification badge which can be placed in the breastpocket of shirts and coats and which has name and insignia identification means which can be adjusted to suit pockets of different sizes so that a name, emblem, and other information may be properly displayed in portions of the device projecting from the pocket itself.

It is also an object of the invention to provide one or more identification inserts for the holder portion of said badge, said insert being frictionally adjustable to various positions by means of slots in said holder.

It is a further object of the invention to divide a sliding plate insert into several sections so that any specific information may be exhibited above the pocket as desired.

It is another object of the invention to provide the surfaces of the holder and the sliding inserts with surfaces capable of receiving ink such as in printing, writing, etc.

A diagrammatic view of the invention is shown in FIG- URES 1, 2, 3, and 4. FIGURE 1 shows the assembly identification badge, the fiat slotted holder 10 receiving in frictional relationship the fiat plate insert 11 containing the information to be exhibited to the outside world. This insert may be subdivided in two or more sections vertically which may then be separately adjustable. Such a separate section is shown by the numeral 12 in the figure. The sliding insert fits into a slot of the holder 10 with sufiicient friction to make it possible to raise and maintain the plates 11 or 12 at any desired height above the holder within the limits of their respective lengths. Various legends may be placed upon the front or the back face of the inserts 11 and 12 to indicate the name, affiliation, etc. of the wearer, as is common in the case of the conventional badges worn by clubmembers, etc.

FIGURE 2 shows a variation in the structure of the sliding inserts to fit them into a holder, in which pins 13 support the inserts, fitting into corresponding slots in the holder.

To better accommodate narrow sections such as 12 of FIGURE 1, and especially where it is intended to display pins of various sorts such as club pins, fraternity pins, etc., the variant shown in FIGURE 3 may be used. The insert can thus be simply a small rod 15 as shown, fitted into a hole of similar size in the appropriate section of the holder and having frictional contact therewith. The club pin 14 is shown in FIGURE 3 attached to the rod 3,394,475 Patented July 30, 1968 insert 15. In some instances it is desirable to display only the emblem, in which case this can be done without raising the other sections of the insert nameplate above the level of the pocket used.

It is sometimes desirable to modify the sliding insert 11 in the manner shown in FIGURE 4. In this case the upper portion of the slide is formed in the general configuration shown, having an outwardly depending portion 16 from the upper portion of the nameplate insert. Not only does this provide for inscription of a greater amount of information but the lip thus formed can be fitted over the outside of the pocket, thus holding it securely in place in the proper position, the holder then acting as counterweight inside the pocket.

A corresponding lip on the other side of the sliding insert may also be provided so that additional and different types of information can be revealed with the same identification holder.

The dimensions of the badge are such that it may conveniently fit into garment breastpockets having varied dimensions of length and height. Dimensions of the badges should, of course, be small enough so that in its closed position it will be completely hidden in the pocket of the smallest dimensions in which it is to be used. The thickness is a matter of choice depending on materials, economics, etc. The thickness shown in the drawing has been somewhat proportionally exaggerated in order to show the details more clearly, but the walls of th holder may be almost paper thin with corresponding thinness of the sliding inserts. The device may be made of metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, etc. depending upon the demands of the marketplace.

It should be noted that this device has many characteristics which are superior to th buttons, badges, etc. commonly used at present for identification placques. Most club badges have flimsy fasteners which permit the badges to be displaced or to fall out of the pockets and they are not flexible in use nor multipurpose. The present device is extremely versatile and can be carried in the pocket without display until such time as needed and then for conveying a great variety of information.

The faces of the holder and the slide may have imprinted upon them suitable information such as a calendar, statistical notes, or may be left plain for inscribing pencil and pen notes for easy recollection of important information.

I claim as my invention:

1. An adjustable identification badge for breast pockets in garments, comprising a flat holder slotted to receive one or more inserts in sliding frictional relationship with said holder to maintain said inserts in any desired adjusted position in the slots of said holder, the upper portions of said inserts having downwardly projecting appendages to fit over the pockets of said garments.

2. An identification badge as described in claim 1 in which the total height of the device with the inserts in the lowest position is less than the depth of the pocket in which it is to be used.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,770,900 11/1956 Smith 4065 2,776,638 l/1957 Whitaker 4065 X 2,974,433 3/ 1961 Litzinger 4064 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

W. I. CONTR-ERA'S, Assistant Examiner. 

